Garrett, third-round pick Tyrone Crawford agree: He's an overachiever with a high motor

Crawford was taken by the Cowboys in the third round Friday night. After waiting through the entire second round and 17 picks of the third round, the Cowboys used the 81st pick of the draft on the 6-4, 280-pound defensive end from Boise State.

“He’s a guy that we really feel like has some upside,” Garrett said. “He played at a very good program. A number of players the last few days have been drafted from Boise. He played a high level of competition, he played the right way, he practiced the right way.

“The thing we like about him the most is his motor, the way he plays. he’s a high-energy guy.”

Crawford, 22, comes from a modest football background.

He played high school football in Canada, drew little attention and went to junior college in California. Boise State was the only major school to recruit him, he said, and he didn’t start for the Broncos until his second year.

He got on the NFL’s radar by leading Boise in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (13.5), causing three fumbles, recovering two fumbles and blocking a kick as a senior.

In two years at Boise, he had 13.5 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, caused four fumbles, recovered three (one for a 32-yard touchdown) and blocked two kicks.

Asked to describe his playing style, he said, “Get to the quarterback. I think I find a way to get to the quarterback. Good technique. I’ve been working on that, also. I’m good at stopping the run.”

The Cowboys’ scouts liked his work ethic, and Crawford emphasized it.

“I consider myself a student of the game,” he said. “I’m definitely going to go into the meeting room, learn a lot from the veterans, try to get better every day.”